Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany Talks Season 2 And An Emmy Snub

While I assume that going through childbirth while being waterboarded would certainly be torturous, I think having to wait the eon between seasons of BBC America’s Orphan Black is nearly as bad. Mentally, at least. Physically, I’ll admit that childbirth is probably worse. The show’s award-winning star Tatiana Maslany recently sat down with TV Guide and reinvigorated my anticipation for the show to return, which isn’t going to happen for another eight months or so. Interestingly (or perhaps not, to some), she doesn’t give away any major spoilers for the second season, but it’s primarily because the show’s creators, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, haven’t yet told her where they’re going with the story. There are a couple of spoilers for the first season, though, so you probably shouldn’t read on if you haven’t seen it all yet.

Incidentally, Maslany was on the set of NBC’s Parks and Recreation during the interview, as she’s guest starring in two episodes this season as Tom’s (Aziz Ansari) love interest. That’s pretty cool. I love that show. I think I’ve driven away anyone who hasn’t watched the show.

Now that we know the clones are all trademarked property of the Neolutionists, the complicated issue of ownership comes up in the show in a more extreme way than it has in the past, and Maslany says the knowledge affects each of the clones differently as it carries into the second season, and she relates to it through her femininity.

It’s so interesting that it’s in the context of clones, but it’s all women dealing with this idea of, ‘Do I own my body?…Who am I if somebody else has decided all this stuff?’ I think Sarah is a fiercely rebellious person, so anybody putting her in a box is when she’ll lose her shit. Cosima is fascinated with this concept because of the science of it and because of the way that she can break things down and understand them better. Alison bought into it.

As for each of the characters, she has the same questions most of us do. She’s not sure whether Cosima will fall victim to the sickness that is affecting the clones, but she’d be sad to see her go. As would I. Maslany says Alison’s denial has her blinded to the danger she’s in, and that she would fly over the edge if she ever realized that her husband actually is her monitor and that she murdered Aynsley, her neighbor and former best friend, for nothing. For drama’s sake, I hope it all comes out almost immediately. Maslany looks forward to finding out more about Rachel, the Proclone that works with Dr. Leekie, and she agrees that more clones are probably coming next year.

Pretty much all we know about next season is the addition of a couple new characters, that clones are possible, and that it will pick up soon after the finale took place. I need more!

As surprising and righteous as it was when the Television Critics Association nominated and then awarded Maslany for Individual Achievement in a Drama, it was almost as surprising how quickly people attacked the Emmys for failing to nominate her. When asked about this snub, the actress’ response is grounded in reality:

It wasn’t like I did Orphan Black and was like, [in a snooty voice] ‘I can’t wait to be nominated for an Emmy.’ I was just like, ‘I’m so excited I’m doing this show. I hope I can get through the day without passing out.’ All that stuff feels exterior. The support and the ferocious fandom that got angry about it, that’s lovely…Doctors don’t get awarded [for] things the entire world knows about. It’s just so warped.

That’s a great way to think about it. But when it comes to watching things on TV, I pass up surgery shows for Orphan Black every time.

Comments

Why is it the the BBC can create very good sci-fi, but when they try here in the states, it absolute crap lately…. maybe it’s time to hire outside help to bring back some good tv back to America, other than I can’t sing and who cares about about my crappy life “reality tv” shows. It’s pretty sad when Duck Dynasty gets a better season premier than the rest of the garbage that is in on regular tv.